Review: Boldly go with ‘Star Trek: Discovery’

Make it So, Number One

Last night, the first episode of the first Star Trek television series in 12 years premiered on CBS and later the first two episodes being free to stream on the CBS All Access. CBS All Access is the streaming service through CBS that allows you to see original content, current and past show episodes (including all “Survivor” and “Big Brother” episodes and season), Star Trek is like Star Wars, but less of the dark side and more of the explorer with a side of battle stations. I’m going to try to have no spoilers but Anyways, here’s my review of the first two episodes of “Star Trek: Discovery.”

“Star Trek: Discovery” takes place in the TV/normal canon and has nothing to do with the movie franchise, which is a good thing. While I slightly enjoy the movies, I’m very glad they are keeping the two universes separate. The show takes place in between the prequel series, “Star Trek: Enterprise,” and the original series that aired in the 1960s. The first two episodes also set up the series and really doesn’t have anything to do with the rest of the series, besides one character. The one characters and the events that happened on the first two episodes that really keep tie everything together.

The series follows Michael Burnham as her life turns upside during the Cold War between the United Federation of Planets and the newly reunited Klingon Empire. Unlike the past five Star Trek series, the show’s main character but rather the first officer, who is the second in command on the ship. You pretty much spend the first couple of episodes waiting to see if she becomes captain but a twist at the end of episode two that really takes the show in an expected direction. I can already tell that this series is a brand new take on the entire Star Trek universe. It’s rather refreshing that this show isn’t like any other show in the series.

Thematically, it’s shot like it was out of the film franchise, just minus all the lens flares. Thank god, there is no lens flares. In fact, the first two episodes reminded me a lot of a prequel movie. It’s sets up the plot, and introduces the main character in a way that keeps you engaged. Honestly, it would make more sense to make the first two episodes into one. The second episode literally picks up where the first one ends like it was meant to be like that.

This really wasn’t a good start to the series. Yeah, it was interesting but it just didn’t live up to the usually fanfare that comes with the Star Trek franchise. If they would have combined the first two into one and then showed the third, it might have been a little big better. There’s also some story telling aspects that aren’t really fleshed out. It’s mainly with the Klingon, who don’t really look like Klingon’s besides the iconic ridges. I don’t hate the show so far, but it just feels rushed a little bit. The effects, the acting, and the fighting is on par with the rest of the series in the franchise.

The opening credits for the show are also something that is just bad. The music is trying to be it’s own thing while borrowing portions of the original series theme. The opening video has been just of the ship flying around in space before going into warp out of scene. For this show, it’s like drawing that are coming to left and the ship is flying around them. It’s just one of those things that make you scratch your head. They really could have done better with the opening. All the other ones are iconic.

I hope the “Star Trek: Discovery” picks up with the reminding episodes, but the first two just fell a little flat for me. It there were combined and with the third episode shown, it might have been a little bit better. I tired to think of it on it’s own marks but not like the other series in the franchise, but they were just better when it came to setting up the season. The show is definitely suffering from the growing pains. I’ll review the first part of the season once it concludes in November. Here’s to the show getting better!

”Star Trek: Discovery” will stream every Sunday at 8:30 PM on the CBS All Access.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Leave your thoughts in the comments below. Make sure you follow me on Twitter for more cold things.